Metsger Appointment Cleared by General Counsel

NCUA Board Chairman Debbie Matz said she consulted with the agency’s general counsel before appointing Board Member Rick Metsger to the vice chairman’s office.

Matz appointed Metsger vice chairman Monday, the first time in the NCUA’s history a vice chairman has not been determined by a board vote.

NCUA regulation 790.2(b) (1) states a second member is designated by the board to be vice chairman, suggesting a vote is required.

However, the Federal Credit Union Act does not mention the vice chairman’s office, and states the chairman can determine each board member’s area of responsibility.

“I was told I had the authority to make the appointment. I consulted with our general counsel,” she said in an interview.

Matz also said the time was right to name Metsger vice chairman, because Mark McWatters will join the board soon.

“When I came in, Board Member Fryzel had been the chairman and I just did not feel it was appropriate for him to be the third member and have a vice chair. It was be somewhat disrespectful so I thought it would be better to wait until he left,” she said.

“I did not want it to be demeaning to him to have been chairman and have someone else as the vice chair. It really was just out of respect for Board Member Fryzel,” she added.

Matz said the vice chairman title is mostly symbolic.

“If I were somehow incapacitated, he would assume my duties and responsibilities,” she said. “He’ll be a representative on NeighborWorks and other duties as assigned. Of course, I’ll talk to him and see if there’s anything he would like to dig his teeth into,” she added.